Hi all, I have a pair of chocolate gourami which have been flirting on and off since I got them. Today I'm pretty sure the female is hloding eggs in her mouth. I tried to take some photos, but I'm afraid they're not very good...

I have a couple of questions. How long will she hold on to them? What is the best thing to do if I want some to survive? Fry net, separate tank, just leave her in the main tank... ?

Also, the male seems to now have a problem swimming, he's alright whilst he's moving, but when he stops he twists onto his side. Is it his swim bladder and is there anything I can do for him?

It doesn't seem to be effecting him to badly at the moment, still feeding and moving around alright.

Thanks diademhill, I will leave her where she is, and maybe a couple will survive... I do have a quarantine / hospital tank but it's being used by my daughter at the moment as a grow out tank for her platy fry so I can't use that.

My water parameters are; ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, nitrate 20/40ppm, pH6.8, KH 2dH and temp 28C. I do 2 x 20% water changes a week, the filter has peat in it and I add homemade blackwater extract (from oak leaves). Is there anything I should change?

No nitrates in tap water, and I think they're probably closer to 20 than 40 in the tank, I check just before the water change, but have difficulty deciding which colour fits best on the card, so usually err on the higher side. I will up the water changes to 25% to be sure.

Thanks again, I'll have to wait and see if any manage to make it hiding in all the nooks and crannies in the tank!